Side opening suction cleaner



1, 1952 F. c. DOUGHMAN 2,580,645

sm: OPENING SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 24, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. FERMAN c: DOUGHMAN Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDE OPENING SUCTION CLEANER Ferman C. Doughman, Darien, .Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application May 24, 1947', Serial No. 750,249

6 Claims.-

without disturbing the position. or attachment of a suction hose through which dirt-laden air is ledto the cleaner.v

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of the type set forth in which the door is opened in automatic response to variations of the cleaning characteristic of the ap paratus.

A still. further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the type set forth in which the dirt receptacle is. moved from the confines cf the casing as an incident to the opening of the side closure thereof.

Numerous other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section of one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of that form of the invention shown in Fig. l. with the side opened and the dust receptacle presented for disposal, and;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken .on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

While certain features of the present inventive concept may be embodied in various type of suction cleaners, the invention is more particularly designed for use in connection with the so-called tank type cleaners which are characterized by the provision of a comparatively stationary floor supported casing which houses the motor-fan unit and a dust separating and retaining receptacle. A flexible .hoseis attached to the casing in :such manner that dust-laden air is induced through the hose to be delivered to the dust separating and retaining receptacle.

.As distinct from cleaners of this general class now on the market in which the hose is secured to a removable end cover, the present construction provides a rigid and permanently secured end memberto which the hose issecured and provides for the removal and replacement of the dust receptacle by provision of a side opening door. The present concept also-embodies amovable st ucturc supnorted .by the door .to receive and movably support the receptacle so that upon opening of the door, the receptacle may be dis.- placed from the confines of the casing to be presented for disposal. A further feature of the present construction is the provision of the auto-, matic. means whereby the door is opened and the receptacle is presented for .disposal in re: sponse to variations in the cleaning characteristics of the. apparatus. Thus, when the receptacle is fully loaded the door will beopened and the.

receptacle will be moved for convenient handlin without dependence on the vigilance of the user.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the present embodiment of the invention com-.- prises an elongated and substantially cylindrical casing 1,9 which is adapted to be supported in spaced relation from .the floor by sleighs H which permit the casing to be readily moved across the floor in response to the application of force to the cleaning hose I2, the end of which is adapted to be provided with suitable cleaning tools. A lifting handle !3 of conventional form is also provided for the casing I0 so that it may be conveniently carried from place to place. Within the casing there is mounted a vertical perforated bulkhead l4 dividing the casing into a rear motor-fan chamber [5 and a forward dust receptacle chamber I 5 Within the chamber there is mounted an electric motor-fan unit indiecated at I! which maybe manually controlled by a foot operating control switch 8. The rear end of; the casing 16 is closed by an end housin l9 from which .air is exhausted through an outlet fixture .20, the fixture 20 preferably including a hose connector 121 to which ,the hose 12 may be attached when it is desired to use the motor-fan unit asa blower.

The forward end of the casing 18 is closedby a.

front end structure 22 permanently and rigidly secured to the casing 10, the end 22 being pro.- vided'with a hose connector 23 .to which the 'hose 12 may be removably secured. Associated with the connector '23 there is provided a fixed air in-.- let .tube 24 which extends through. an end plate or bulkhead 25 permanently and fixedly secured within the casing Ill and centrally apertured to receive the tube .24 vtherethrough. Adjacent the tube .24 end plate '25 is provided with a depression 2.6 which is adapted to receive a sealing gasket as .will be hereinafter described.

:One side of the casing 10, preferably the right side looking from the front as in Fig. 3, is cut away from a point extending rearwardly from the plate .25 to a point close towthe bulkhead M.

the P emn iextending .vertically @from. a point of the side walls, as is shown in Fig. 3.

slightly above the forward point of attachment of the sleighs II to a point slightly below the tap T e openin thus formed at the side of the casing I is provided with a closure comprising a door 30 hingedly mounted on a vertical pintle 3| mounted within the end member 22 and provided with an encircling spring 32 which normally biases the door 30 to fully opened position as shown in Fig. 2.

Mounted on the door 30 for movement therewith is an apertured front plate 35, the aperture of which is surrounded by gasket 36 adapted, when the door is in closed or sealing position, to be seated within the recess 26 of the plate 25 of the front end. The aperture of the member 35 is fitted with an intake tube 3! which is adapted for registration with an extension through the central aperture 33 of the substantially rigid front end 39 of a dust separating and retaining receptacle, the body of which is indicated at 48. The door 39 also carries with it transversely extending supporting bars 4| here shown as 4 in number which are secured adjacent the lower portion of the door and which in turn carry longitudinally extending guide supports 42, the central one of which is upwardly turned at the front to support a central longitudinally extending guide tube 43. Mounted for sliding movement on the guide supports 42 and guided by the tube 43 is a dust receptacle tray or holder comprising a body 45 and a supporting frame 46. The central lower surface of the frame 46 has an inverted U-shap-ed channel 47 which overlies the tube 43. The arrangement is such that the frame spaces the body 45 upwardly from the supports 42, while the frame 46 and body 45 move longitudinally upon the supports.

The rear wall of the body 45 of the tray or holder is formed by inwardly turning the side walls and at their juncture there is joined a bracket 48 which supports a forwardly extending guide rod 49 which in turn is slidably mounted within the tube 43 in such manner as to guide the sliding movement of the tray upon the supports 42. The tray is normally urged rearwardly from its retracted position shown in Fig. 1 by the provision of a coil spring '50, the forward end of which abuts a washer fixed to the tube 43 while the opposite end bears against the bracket 48, thus normally urging the tray towards outward movement. For securing the tray against such outward movement when the door is closed there is provided a notch 52 in the rod 49 which when the tray is moved to full inward positionas shown in Fig. 1 is engaged by a latch 53 which is pivotally mounted on brackets 54 and is normally urged to the vertical position shown in Fig. l by spring 55. As the door opens to the position shown in Fig. 2 the lower extension of the latch 53 strikes an abutment 56 which rocks the latch out of engagement with the rod 49 whereupon the spring 56 will slide the tray rearwardly on the supports 42 as guided by the rod 49 in the tube 43.

The dust receptacle body 40 is preferably formed of inexpensive material, such as paper, its front end being closed by the apertured rigid member 39. For securing the receptacle in proper position within the tray the forward end of the tray is provided with a centrally apertured front end plate 58, the edges of which form channels 59, the arrangement being such that the rigid end 39 of the receptacle may he slid downwardly in the channels 59 which will retain the end 39 in proper position so that the forward sliding movement of the tray will insert the tube 31 through the aperture 38 in order that air will be directed to flow from the hose [2 into the interior of the body 40. When the door is opened, and the holder is moved out to the ejected position shown in Fig. 2, the receptacle may be readily removed by an upward sliding movement and a new receptacle may be readily inserted in a reverse manner.

As hereinbefore stated, the door is spring biased to normally opened position by the spring 32 of the door pintle 3|. Such outward movement of the door is,however, precluded during operation of the device by the engagement of a downwardly turned projection 60 of the central longitudinal support 42 with the armature 6| of a solenoid 62. Upon energization of the solenoid '62 the armature Si is retracted to release the projection 60 and to. permit the side door to be opened.

For controlling the energization of the solenoid 62 there is provided a Sylphon bellows B4 and an associated switch 65. The arrangement is such that when the receptacle body 40 becomes clogged with dirt and consequently the suction in the chamber is increases, the Sylphon 64 which is in the chamber l6 will expand and close the switch 65 and energize the solenoid 62. If desired, the pressure responsive system may also control the energization of the motor-fan unit either simultaneously with the solenoid 62 or in advance thereof. It is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to the simplified control system here schematically indicated and reference may be had to the copending application of Ferman C. Doughman, Serial No. 676,318, filed June 12, 1946, which describes in detail a pressure responsive system such as may be applicable to the present inventive concept.

In the operation of the present invention it will be understood that with the door opened as shown in Fig. 2 a clean dust receptacle including the body 40 and end structure 39 is positioned within the tray by sliding the end structure into the channels 59. The tray is then pressed inwardly against the tension of the spring whereby the tube 3! is inserted through the aperture 38 of the receptacle. Inward movement of the tray moves rod 49 inwardly and latch 53 engages the notch 52 of the rod 49 to secure the tray in innermost position. Pivotal closing movement of the door thereafter causes the projection to pass the armature 6! of the solenoid 62 which thereafter retains the door against opening movement. After continued use of the cleaner, the receptacle body 40 will be-- come clogged with dust and dirt separated from the inflowing air whereupon the pressure in the chamber I6 outside of the dust receptacle will decrease until such time as the Sylphon 64 will respond sufficiently to close the switch 65. Thereupon the solenoid 62 will be energized to withdraw the armature from the projection 60 and the door will then open under the bias of the spring 32. As the door reaches its maximum open position, the abutment 56 trips the latch 53, rocking it out of engagement with the rod 49, whereupon the spring 50 will move the tray rearwardly to the exposed position of Fig. 2, thus presenting the bag for convenient disposal.

It will be understood that the invention is notlimited to the specific structural details herein depicted and that numerous changes and modiiications thereof, may be resorted to without departure from the spirit or scope of the present invention as outlined by the accompanied claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction cleaner, a body having fixed wall structure defining a dust bag compartment, said structure being formed with an air inlet open-. ing and with a separate access opening for the insertion and removal of a dust receptacle, a

pivotally mounted closure member for sealing said access opening, a dust receptacle holder movably mounted on the inner side of said closure member, means for retaining said closure member in sealing position and said holder in retracted position, and means for opening said closure member and for moving said holder relative to said closure member and outwardly through said access opening.

2. In a suction cleaner, a body having fixed wall structure defining a dust bag compartment, said structure being formed with an air inlet opening and with a separate access opening for the insertion and removal of a dust receptacle, a pivotally mounted closure member for sealing said access opening, spring means biasing said closure member towards open position, means for retaining said closure member in sealing position, a dust receptacle holder slidably mounted on the inner side of said closure member, spring means biasing said holder to move relative to said closure member, means for retaining said holder in retracted position, and means for releasing both of said retaining means.

3. In a suction cleaner, a body having fixed wall structure defining a dust bag compartment, said structure being formed with an air inlet opening and with a separate access opening for the insertion and removal of a dust bag, a pivotally mounted closure member for sealing said access opening, an inlet tube carried by said closure and movable therewith by closing movement thereof into communication with said inlet opening, a dust bag holder movably mounted on the inner side of said closure and movable towards said inlet tube to a retracted position and away from said tube to an ejected position, a dust bag carried by said holder, said bag having an inlet aperture which is brought into communication with said inlet tube when said holder is moved to retracted position, and means for opening said closure member and for moving said holder relative to said closure member and outwardly through said access opening to ejected position.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a housing formed with an opening, a dust bag within said housing, means operable for moving said dust bag outwardly through said opening, a closure for said opening, means for producing flow of air through said casing and through said dust bag therein, means responsive to a predetermined pressure drop through said dust bag for opening said closure, and means actuated by opening of said closure for operating the first mentioned means to move said dust bag outwardly.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a housing formed with an opening, a dust bag within said housing, spring means stressable to produce a force for moving said dust bag outwardly through said opening, means for retaining said spring means in stressed condition, a closure for said opening, means for producing flow of air through said casing and through said dust bag therein, means responsive to a predetermined pressure drop through said dust bag for opening said closure, and means actuated by opening of said closure for releasing the retaining means.

6. In a suction cleaner, a body having fixed Wall structure defining a dust bag compartment, said structure being formed with an air inlet opening and with a separate access opening for the insertion and removal of a dust bag, a pivotally mounted closure member for sealing said access opening, a dust bag holder movably mounted on the inner side of said closure member, a dust bag carried by said holder, means for producting fiow of air through said casing and through said dust bag therein, means responsive to a predetermined pressure drop through said dust bag for opening said closure member, and means actuated by opening of said closure member for moving said holder relative to said closure member and outwardly through said access opening.

FERMAN C. DOUGHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 987,870 Frame Mar. 28, 1911 999,269 Spencer Aug. 1, 1911 1,895,291 Meyer Jan. 24, 1933 1,952,627 Karper Mar. 27, 1934 2,117,368 Sellers May 17, 1938 2,171,843 Brock Sept. 5, 1939 2,172; Schellens Sept. 5, 1939 2,410,293 Kitto Oct. 29, 1946 

